Winter's almost gone

Winter's almost gone.
The snow went away.
The grey skies and rainy days remain.
Lots of time to play poker again...
In the Cambodian sunshine, a few big leaks sneaked into my game. Luckily, PokerVT helped me find and fix them quickly. Jon Ettinger's video series on six-max cash games improved my game tremendously.
Even made a nice, little three-figure profit for the month of February. Supposedly, it was going to be a month without poker so I'm happy I earned some cash nevertheless.
The future is looking bright.
Never mind the weather.
My bankroll is back up to a solid level (after a disastrous January).
Tomorrow I'll move up to the $0.50/$1 Rush Poker games on Full Tilt.
I feel ready.
The sunshine's gone.
Nothing left to do but poker.
Building up my my stash of cash for another run
to sweet, seedy Sihanoukville
somewhere in the far and distant future...

No Money Heads Up (Everyone's Solid)

Things are going well (+$$$!).
In Cambodia, I struggled a bit to get used to Rush Poker. Back in Brussels, my profit graph is going up again. Nice and steady, just the way I like it.

The Casino Clandestino Heads Up Challenge, on the other hand, is annoying me tremendously...
Small-stakes live poker should be irrelevant. But getting owned by that same villain, time after time, is not fun at all...
First I thought my heads up game was getting sloppy.
Then I found out:

There's no money heads up.
Everyone's solid.

(Check out the hilarious Two Plus Two-thread or listen to the song...)

Walled World

Living on the green side of the wall is just like a winning lottery ticket...
(picture credits: the very cool 'Information is Beautiful'-website)

After The Sunshine

Arriving in Brussels, early one morning.
Outside temperature: -4°C. Snow everywhere.
Fuck, everything exactly as it was.
No more perfect sunsets. No more tropical beaches.
Back to the dayjob.
Life in the big, grey city continued...
It will take a miracle to get out of here anytime soon.
Alas, I don’t believe in miracles.
So return to the daily grind it is
wake up/ work/ poker/ chill out/ sleep (repeat indefinitely)
At least, there’s still Rush Poker at Full Tilt.
Playing a billion, zillion, trillion hands until this fucking winter finally goes away.

The Long Way Home

Someway Outta Here

Originally uploaded by VagabondBXL

Only a few days left...

I almost forgot all about that cold, dark city far, far away.

Alas, time to leave sweet Sihanoukville behind...

Filthy Rich Fish got a huge boost in visitor numbers over the past month.

Thanks to all of you for stopping by and reading my daily ramblings!

Running out of time

Running out of words

Nothing left but

The long way home...

SnookyVille Visions

"Snapshots of a small town by the sea"


About one month ago, photography was nothing but a distant memory. By chance, I started playing around with a small camera. Took a few shots here, took a few more there... Now weeks have passed and I have been taking pictures everywhere, everyday.
No agressive big-lens, big-camera up-close spectacular photojournalism (for 'world peace' or, more sincere, for my own personal pride and glory). Been there, done that. This time around, no one was interrupted by my presence. Photojournalism death and gone. You want misery, watch BBC World.

This is just a personal view of my daily wanderings around town...
The streets, buildings, beaches and landscapes of this little town by the sea...

A vague and humble attempt to capture Sihanoukville anno 2010 in a series of simple, honest images

"SnookyVille Visions" on Flickr

Beating The Game

It’s been weeks since I have been stopped by traffic police while driving a moto-bike.
I guess I acquired the necessary skills.
Looking back, I was pretty much a noob during my first weeks in Sihanoukville.
Every time I saw traffic police I would slow down and steer my bike all the way to the right-hand side of the road. In Europe that makes perfect sense. When there’s police on the street, it's a good time to obey the law.
Out here it’s a whole different game, tough.
I have been a little fly going straight for the web of the spider...
So, from extended personal experience, here's my advice:
When you spot traffic police the trick is to move as far to the left-hand side of the road as possible and speed up. They will yell and maybe whistle but they will not chase you (it’s hot out here, especially in a police uniform). Do not make eye contact, do not slow down, look straight ahead and do not stop.
Alternatively, making a quick turn in a small side street or even going for the full U-turn are also very effective ways to avoid paying fines/bribes.
Stick to these simple rules and cruising around Sihanoukville on a moto will be smooth and hassle-free.
No rules, no helmet,
just full speed ahead...